FOREIGN MATTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20512, 2 September 1936, Page 3

FOREIGN MATTER

AUSTRALIAN WOOL BALES Mr Ijima, head of a Japanese wool house, writes to a Sydney firm expressing his “great disappointment, due perhaps to carelessness,” at the foreign matter of “startling sorts” mixed with wools from Australia. Inter alia he states that the superiority of quality of Australian wools is recognised, and Japan, as their great consumer, naturally desires to have Australian wools superior in every respect. Much to her disappointment, however, various foreign matters were mixed in wools imported from Australia. “I am aware that the mode of packing of wools in Australia is different from that practised in China, where the Chinese purposely mix sand and soil with wools to make the weight of packages heavier. It is however, regrettable to note that such foreign matters and impurities as seen in the picture (which was attached to the letter) were found in wools imported from Australia last year, and this, I take, as being due to carelessness at the time of packing at the sheepstations of Australia and not to any act done intentionally,” notes the writer. “The picture shows foreign matters found in Australian combing fleeces which were imported by the Tokio Muslin Co.” These foreign matters were found in 29.072 bales of Australian merino combining fleeces which were sorted during the period from January, 1935. to January 15. 1936, and comprised: No. 1. Vesta matches (great danger of spontaneous combustion); No. 2, iron bush; No. 3, broken pieces of wire rope; No. 4, tobacco tins; No. 5, stone weighing 31b; No. 6, rat-trap; No. 7, safety matches, sweaters; No. 8, sheep's horns, leather belt, chains; No. 9, snap hook; No. 10, pieces of envelope; No. 11, safety matches; No. 12, knife, leather sack, stencils and sheep’s leg; No. 13, lid for smoker’s pipe; No. 14, wood clip; No. 15, small brass metal, with a small hole at bottom; No. 16. spur, cutters sheepshearing machine; No. 17; paper case for cigarettes; No. 18, plate spring weighing 1.51 b; No. 19: paper case for cigarettes, fountain pen; No. 20, four hand hooks, iron needles.